Coaches express confidence as I-League 3 matches begin in Diphu

DIPHU — Ahead of the I-League 3 Group D leg, which began on Tuesday at the Karbi Anglong Sports Association (KASA) stadium in Diphu, a joint press briefing was held by the coaches of the participating teams.

In Group D, there are five teams: Kenkre FC from Mumbai, Jaipur Elite from Jaipur, Bhuna FC from Haryana, Klasa FC from Manipur, and Karbi Anglong Morning Star FC (KAMSFC) from Diphu. Each team will play four matches in their group encounters.

It is worth noting that clubs such as Kenkre FC, Jaipur Elite, and Bhuna FC have prior experience in the I-League, having previously qualified for the competition. In contrast, the host team, KAMSFC, will be experiencing the I-League for the first time.

KAMSFC earned their place in the I-League 3 after winning the 2024 Assam State Premier League (ASPLC) club competition.

KASA General Secretary Dr. Pankaj Teron explained on the occasion that the I-League is a premier football competition in India, managed by the All India Football Federation (AIFF). It operates as a three-tier system: teams competing in I-League 3 have the opportunity to advance to I-League 2, with the winners of I-League 2 progressing to I-League 1.

There are 25 teams competing, divided into five groups. The venues are Kashmir, Goa, West Bengal, Aizawl, and KASA in Diphu. The top two teams from each group will advance to the final. Two matches will be played each day, he added.

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Addressing the media, the coach of Jaipur Elite, Rajasthan, Alok Poonia, stated that his club is still in a growth phase, concentrating on nurturing young football talent across Rajasthan. He noted that the club has previously qualified for the I-League and mentioned that they are entering this season with new experience and hope, bringing in talented young players. Poonia expressed confidence in their ability to perform well this season.

Kenkre FC has considerable experience in the I-League, having also qualified for I-League 1. Coach Akhil Vinod remarked that every match will be challenging, as all teams are well-prepared. He expressed hope that they will perform well this season.

The coach of Bhuna FC said that I-League 3 serves as a preparatory platform for young players to advance to the next level. He explained that players are being trained from the ground level to compete in top-level competitions.

The assistant coach of KAMSFC, the host team, stated that they have worked very hard over the past 8 to 10 years to build a strong team. He highlighted that the team includes skilled local players as well as experienced players who have previously competed in the I-League. The assistant coach expressed hope that they will perform well in this campaign.